1. Therapeutic Taping for the Cervicothoracic, Maxillofacial & TMJ
Dr. Dyanna Haley-Rezac, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CKTP
Dr. Scott Rezac, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CKTP, CEAS

2. Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine
Taping for C/S & T/S
Identify your Asterisk (*) Sign
Tape for * sign, re-check
Spine tends to be more taping for function than pain (pain follows function)
Great adjunct to manual techniques to carry over following Rx.
Joint mobilization
Soft Tissue mobilization
PNF (scapular)
Capital Flexion Neuro Re-ed
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

3. Sternocleidomastiod (SCM) Kinesio® Technique
Split strip in two, starting at mastoid, one strip to manubrium other to clavicle
Tape with cervical spine in contralateral sidebend and ipsilateral rotation
Facilitation or Inhibition
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

4. Sternocleidomastiod (SCM) Kinesio® Technique
Indications
Inhibit SCM to facilitate deep capital flexors (longis colli / longus capitis)
Correct Torticollis
Decrease SCM spasm, facilitate ROM
Decrease tension on TMJ
Headaches
Testing
Capital Flexion
Posture
Pain / HA
ROM
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

5. Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine
Posterior Cervicothoracic (Erector Spinae) Muscles McConnell & Kinesio® Technique
Single strip to facilitate or inhibit over affected segments
Tape with spine in flexion
Unilateral or bilateral
Bilateral extension – facilitate both sides
Rotation – inhibit side with muscle spasm and facilitate contralateral side
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

6. Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine
Posterior Cervicothoracic (Erector Spinae) Muscles McConnell & Kinesio® Technique
Indications
Generally effective to tape C/S and T/S for enhanced postural correction
Bilaterally to decrease excess cervical lordosis
Vertebral rotations - Unilaterally to inhibit muscle spasm on contracted side and facilitate less active side
Improve painfree C/S and T/S extension or inhibit excessive extension
Testing
Posture
AROM / quality of motion
Pain
Segmental spinal motion
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

7. Posterior Spine Mulligan Technique
Following Joint Mobilization
2” strip across the segment mobilized with moderate to maximum stretch
Can use this in conjunction with the McConnell & Kinesio® Erector Spinae Technique
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

8. Posterior Spine Mulligan Technique
Indications
Following Joint Mobilization for Stabilization
Improve thoracic extension
Testing
Posture
AROM / quality of motion
Pain
Segmental spinal motion
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

9. Levator Scapulae Kinesio® Tape
Kinesio® Technique
Split strip starting at transverse processes C1-C4 one strip to the medial border of scapula, other to the superior angle with inhibition stretch
Tape with cervical spine in contralateral rotation and flexion
Modified Tape Practical Application
Single strip
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

10. Upper / Middle Trapezius Kinesio® Technique
Split strip starting at the TP of the 2nd Vertebrae (below the hairline) with minimal stretch apply one strip to lateral clavicle / acromion, other strip to medial border of the scapula
Tape with cervical spine in contralateral sidebend
Indications – generally inhibition
Modified Tape Practical Application
Single strip
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

11. Kinesio® Taping UT Decreased Pain, no change EMG
Murray H. Effect of Kinesio Taping on Upper Trapezius Muscle Tone and Cervical Discomfort. 15th Annual Kinesio Taping Symposium 2000
Upper Trapezius inhibition
15 subjects with neck pain
No significant difference with EMG
Subjective complaint of pain decreased with tape
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

12. Effects of Tape on Scaption Decreased UT / Increased LT EMG
Selkowitz DM et al. The effects of scapular taping on the surface electromyographic signal amplitude of shoulder girdle muscles during upper extremity elevation in individuals with suspected shoulder impingement syndrome. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Nov;37(11):
Scapular taping decreased upper trapezius and increased lower trapezius activity in people with suspected shoulder impingement during a functional overhead-reaching task, and decreased upper trapezius activity during shoulder scaption.
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

13. Effects of Endura Fix on Lower Trapezius Inhibits Muscle Activity
Alexander CM et al. Does tape facilitate or inhibit the lower fibres of trapezius? Man Ther Feb;8(1):37-41.
The tape was found to inhibit lower trapezius activity. On average, the application of Endura Fix tape inhibited trapezius by 4%. The application of Endura Sports tape overlaying the Endura Fix tape inhibited trapezius on average by 22%. The inhibitory effect was negated once the tape was removed.
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

14. Kinesio® Taping Posture Decreased Pain/Increased GH flexion
Murray H, Husk L, Garcia D. Effects of Kinesio Taping on Posture and Upper Extremity Pain. Presented at 16th Annual Kinesio Taping Symposium. 2001
Unilateral rhomboid facilitation and pectoralis inhibition
15 subjects
Pain complaints significantly decreased and GHJ AROM flexion increased by an average of 15 degrees
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

15. Postural Correction McConnell Technique
Enhance Force Couple
Can tape from scapula to contralateral pelvis
Unilateral or Bilateral
Carry-over PNF
Postural Correction
Scapular retraction and depression
Unilateral or bilateral
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

16. Postural Correction Decreased Kyphosis
Greig AM et al. Postural taping decreases thoracic kyphosis but does not influence trunk muscle electromyographic activity or balance in women with osteoporosis. Man Ther, 2007 Apr
There was a significant effect of postural taping on thoracic kyphosis (p=0.026), with a greater reduction in thoracic kyphosis after taping compared with both control tape and no tape. No EMG or balance effects found.
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

17. Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine
Scoliosis
Tape single strips moderate to maximum stretch on anterior rotated segments
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

18. Rib Pain (Fracture/Subluxation) Athletic & Kinesio® Technique
Decrease pain, similar to immobilizer brace, but allows mobility of other segments
Single strip over affected rib light to moderate stretch
Cross strips unload with space corrections (max stretch across middle 1/3, no stretch on ends) on either side of fracture
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

19. Maxillofacial (sinus) Kinesio® Technique
Edema strips no stretch
Single strip across frontal sinus
Split across nasal sinus
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

20. Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine
TMJ Unload
Space correction
½ strip or 1” tape
~1.5 squares
Maximal pull over center 1/3, no pull on lateral 2/3
Apply 2-4 strips in crossing directions
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

21. C7-T1 Unload (Dowager’s Hump)
Decrease pressure / pain over C7-T1 joint
2 - 4 space correction strips
Maximal stretch over middle 1/3, no stretch lateral 2/3
Great carry-over following C7-T1 fascial release
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

22. Clinical Evidence-Based
Gonzalez-Iglesias. Short-term effects of cervical kinesiotaping on pain and cervical ROM in patients with acute whiplash injury: a randomized clinical trial. JOSPT 2009.
Tension application vs sham
Increase in ROM and decrease in pain in tension group
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

23. Clinical Evidence-Based
What was your Comparable or Asterisk (*) Sign? – recheck that after taping
Objective Assessment
Capital Flexion Tests – substitution of SCM / scalenes, mmHG (pressure) they can hold, number of reps, range they can perform and hold time
Posture – symmetry, improvement in excessive or decreased kyphosis or lordosis
AROM – Improvement in range, pain and quality of motion
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

24. Clinical Evidence-Based
Objective Assessment
Outcome Measures - NDI (Neck Disability Index)
Pain / Headaches - at rest, with previously aggravating motions and / or activities
Frequency
Intensity
Duration
MMT – spine and UEs
Neurological Testing
Decreased radicular symptoms
Special Testing – Adson’s, Allen’s, ULT, Shoulder abduction test
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

25. Clinical Evidence-Based
Functional Improvements
Positional Tolerance
Sitting – at computer, to drive, attend child’s sports activities
Standing with UE activity – washing dishes, at work
C/S Extension – overhead hanging curtains, changing lightbulb, painting, drywall
Activity Tolerance
Turning head for driving safely
Lifting – groceries, children, housework
Pushing/Pulling – lawnmower, vacuum, pushing a stroller or grocery cart
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine

26. Questions/Comments/Discussion?
Scott & Dyanna Rezac - Taping Cervical Spine